The Country was definitely headed in the right direction. The momentum has now shifted the other way. The question is can they stay the course and do what is required. That will takes guts, and determination and character.

Honestly I am not sure they have it in them. Not all of them anyway. We will see.

You can be sure of one thing. Obama's boys are staying up late brainstorming how to create crisis after crisis to spend borrowed money on and blame Boehner for "shutting down the government" when he refuses the Crisis Bailout borrowing. And in the meantime the Fed is merrily printing worthless paper with money symbols written on it and passing off as money.

They know we're watching them and are not quite so forgiving. The country needs some big changes and they had better start delivering or they'll be booted out as fast as the liberals were this go round.

Another thing - they'd better not listen to the false offers of working together and compromise that the Democrats are now talking about since they are not in complete control any longer. They were not talking compromise when they thought they had the run of the town.

Nobody wants to see that, and they know it. Our nation is in serious trouble and many have no patience for fluff right now. It's like having cancer and deciding on Chemo. It's going to be much more challenging than any outside enemy. The enemy is us.

Obama's boys are staying up late brainstorming how to create crisis after crisis to spend borrowed money on and blame Boehner for "shutting down the government" when he refuses the Crisis Bailout borrowing.

That's only if you assume that the Republicans are showboating idiots. Obama has a lot more in common with Newt Gingrich than either would care to admit.

t's a letdown, an anti-climax. We still have to look at Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Barney Frank, even back slapper John McCain. It's a cesspool.

The fact that Boxer, Reid and Frank are still there made me throw up in my mouth a little. despite his annoying tendency to jump to the democrats side I still like Mccain. But at least there is no Pelosi as speaker. I couldn't stand looking at that Botoxed frozen face much longer.

Leaving Reid, Boxer and Frank in Congress may make the Democrats feel a little better about how badly they did yesterday; but it's actually a boon to Republicans.

It's not like Reid's approval rating suddenly jumped overnight because he squeaked out a victory. He is STILL the face the Democrats in Congress, and I'm pretty sure we're all familiar with what THEIR approval rating is.

I imagine that, despite the few days of additionally negative press that it would have generated, there are a whole LOT of Democrats in DC who are extremely unhappy that he has returned.

As far as Boxer is concerned, she's there to remind us how utterly pathetic the entire state of California has become and what the natural end-state of "progressivism" looks like: a failed state that is perpetually on the verge of catastrophic default. Every Republican running in 2012 can simply point to California and say "THAT abomination of out-of-control public unions, excessive government spending, high taxes, and over-regulation is what my opponent ("enemy") is trying to bring to our district. Vote for me."

And Frank is the face of the housing bubble. Over and over again, we get to replay the YouTube vidoes of Frank boldly proclaiming that Republicans were scaremongering and that Fannie and Freddie were JUST FINE. Whenever people like garage or his ilk try to lay the blame on Republicans, we can point out that Bush isn't still in office but FRANK still is...

So let them keep their electoral baggage....2012 is coming, and there are lots of advertisements that have to be made....

Seven...The Crisis will be the Debt Ceiling Raising authorization bill. If Boehner will not pass it, please explain what will happen next. The Fed keeps the presses going all night, or until China refuses to sell us any more paper and ink on credit. Then Soros, who has been short selling the dollar, become twice as wealthy while the IRAs of the middle class become worthless. Nice plan.

The Crisis will be the Debt Ceiling Raising authorization bill. If Boehner will not pass it, please explain what will happen next.

The key is to pass it with lots of beautiful dangly Republican wish list items. You know, like the Democrats have been doing with every piece of legislation for the last 2 years. Then Democrats will be in the position to either pass it or let financial collapse ensue.

Democrats taught Republicans lots of lessons in the last two years with their legislative games: they aren't going to like how adept their students have become.

As far as the part about monetary policy, everyone is shorting the dollar right now. But a few months ago, everyone was shorting the euro, and this was because the euro was (and still is) facing a tremendous existential crisis.

And if China doesn't buy our paper, it just means that rates will go up to a point where someone else will.

Not today. But you really think Madame Speaker's going to hang around for long now that she doesn't have a military jet to shuttle her, her family and her cronies around?

Nope. She'll slink away quietly into the night soon enough. She'll develop a sudden need to "spend more time with her family" when all the perks she got as a Speaker are no more and she is locked out of drafting bills the way she has locked out Republicans since she became Speaker.

And so will a good number of other Democratic veterans who have only stuck around this long because they were in the majority. Life in the minority is no fun, and many of these guys have hefty pensions will elect to go home for good rather than continue dealing with those pesky citizens who keep demanding accountability.

I'd been regretting mightily the survivial of Reid, until I realized that if he had lost Chuck Schumer would be majority leader. Reid is a nasty, self-interested pickle of a man, but Schumer is among the most vainglorious assholes ever to tread the marble floors of the Senate chamber, and that is saying a lot.

You guys who are worried about -- I assume -- the federal government inflating its way out of this crisis are failing to consider the fact that we are in a tremendously deflationary period right now.

You are right to worry; inflation is a threat always. But what do you suggest doing about a continuing liquidity crisis? Further, please get clear in your mind the vast difference between TARP, which was the thing that prevented a Depression, and the stimulus, which was a vast a government spending boondoggle that accomplished nothing.

Reid is a nasty, self-interested pickle of a man, but Schumer is among the most vainglorious assholes ever to tread the marble floors of the Senate chamber, and that is saying a lot.

True. And Reid has a real habit of saying stupid things at inopportune times - especially when he's under stress. And he's going to be under stress pretty much EVERY DAY going forward. So there's going to be LOTS of material to use in the 2012 electoral cycle.

Not good enough. I want to see Michelle Bachmann drag Pelosi down the Capital steps by her hair.

That would be fun to watch. I almost completed that sentence "if only to see the expression on Pelosi's face," and then I remembered that the her massive Botox injections would ensure that there was very little expression whatsoever.

Honestly does anyone believe that the new Republican Wisconsin governor is not going to get as much $$$$$ as he can from the D.C. trough? You people are smoking some shit. Remember the only Republican I think might be a true libertarian is Rand Paul.

We pledge to honor the Constitution as constructed by its framers and honor the original intent of those precepts that have been consistently ignored – particularly the Tenth Amendment,which grants that all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, norprohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.We pledge to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense,and national economic prosperity.We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-basedorganizations that form the core of our American values.We pledge to make government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, andhonest in its dealings.We pledge to uphold the purpose and promise of a better America, knowing that to whommuch is given, much is expected and that the blessings of our liberty buoy the hopes ofmankind.We make this pledge bearing true ...

Unlike 1994, the GOP has no plan. Other than "whatever Obama wants, we're against it."

JIM...That is my whole point "conspiracy" point. Obama gets to say that Boehner shut down the government and sent everyone home with no pay and no Social Security etc., etc.. The blinking one will likely be Boehner because Obama will offer him no compromises. Obama actually would welcome ensuing unrest and civil disorder to pull out his best laid plans of converting the USA over to temporary Marshall Law.

I remember the coverage when Pelosi became Speaker. I would be very interested in seeing a compare and contrast to the new guy.

I will never forget the admiration of commentators as they explained Nancy's strong arm tactics and promises to punish those junior members who didn't agree to cooperate with her agenda. I remember thinking... those people thought they were saying good things about her and her leadership style. I remember thinking... with friends like those...

But it was interesting and instructive to see what sorts of leadership the left thought of as admirable. A woman in power was praised for having an official retribution policy. Egad. And it did seem like it was a "woman" thing. Certainly a man wouldn't be considered strong, he'd be thought a bully.

Well I, for one, wept and sang. But then that happens every time I get soap in my eyes in the shower.

There is still not an official verdict on the race between the crusty old "boycott Arizona" dinosaur and the "pretty cute but not incredibly cute" rocket scientist. If she pulls a win out, I will really weep and sing (odds don't look too good, tho).

Obama actually would welcome ensuing unrest and civil disorder to pull out his best laid plans of converting the USA over to temporary Marshall Law.

Naw, I think he's scared. Corn-fed white boys ain't no joke. They ain't like the ones in the press pool. Them torches are hot; pitch forks sharp. He knows everybody's watching for a flinch now. Even worse, some are on his own team.

I think we'll find him surprisingly easy to box in. Now what do we want and where do we stop?

Well, look at a map. And look at the world economy. India is between China on one side and the whole of militant Islam on the other. We also share a common Anglospheric heritage with India. It's a vital, vital ally. Obama should be visiting much more often.

Doesn't India handle much of our communication? Is he walking around on the White House lawn with a cell phone screaming, "Can you hear me now?"? Did somebody over there claim to be recreated and he's just got to see this for himself?

They are taking forty aircraft. That probably costs something, don't you think? They are renting the entire Taj Mahal hotel. That might have a price tag, too. Three thousand people are going along. Is this what a sane man does in a recession?

We're not in a deflationary mode right now: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/Inflation-CPI.aspx?Symbol=USD

However, if you normalize against the gold standard, then there is slight deflation. Since gold is often used to hedge against inflation, that isn't entirely surprising.

But, as far as dollar PP is concerned, there is no deflation. We did have some deflation in 2009, though, briefly.

Having said that, deflation isn't impossible in the near future. Shorting gold might be a way to hedge against that. Shorting the dollar would too, but it has an additional set of risks associated with the Renminbi that complicates things for regular investors.

That is my whole point "conspiracy" point. Obama gets to say that Boehner shut down the government and sent everyone home with no pay and no Social Security etc., etc..

Here's the problem for Obama: He's out of credibility. Between the lies about the effects of Porkulus, "if you like your plan you'll be able to keep it," Gitmo, etc., etc. No one except the truly gullible are still buying pretty much anything he has to say. ESPECIALLY on anything related to fiscal responsibility. He's a laughingstock on the deficit - just check the poll numbers.

By contrast, Clinton had credibility on the budget. And the media environment is VERY different today. Back in 95, there was no FoxNews - only the echo chambers of the alphabets. No real internet news to speak of. No conservative blogs. Rush was pretty much a lone voice in the wilderness on the radio whereas today there are myriad conservative talkers on the air.

Consequently, there was no "other side of the story." There was no pushback against the Clinton PR team's 24/7 demonization of Republicans. That's not the case today.

2011 is NOT 1995. Obama and the Democrats would be sorely mistaken to think that it is. Remember that Obama famously said the difference for Democrats between 1994 and 2010 was that they have him? Yeah. He was right about 2010. And it's the biggest reason why 2011 won't be like 1995 either.

I remember Jerry Falwell pushing the Clinton Chronicles on Christian TV. All about Vince Foster, etc.

Did you even READ what you wrote before you hit the submit button?

Thanks for making my point so clearly.

Oh yeah. And while we're on the topic: look at the latest poll numbers on the federal government and compare them to 1995. Do you really think that the same people who voted in that Republican majority are going to PUNISH those Republicans for standing firm on spending cuts vs. raising taxes?

In California, there's even less reason to feel like celebrating. They've got another six years of Ma'am Boxer and four with Governor Moonbeam. Double Ugh.

I've never figured out why Meg Whitman would have even WANTED that job given the current state of California's finances and the monolithic Democratic majorities in the legislature preventing any serious attempt at reforming state government.

Let the Democrats own the mess they made. Why would ANYONE even halfway sane set themselves up to fail so spectacularly as they are bound to do now that they're going to be cut off from the federal teat with a new Congress in charge.

The budget deficit this coming year in California is going to absolutely boggle the mind. There aren't enough people or businesses left in the state making enough money to get that kind of money no matter how high they raise the taxes. Especially when you consider that the net effect will simply be to convince anyone who IS making money to leave the state for greener pastures elsewhere.

I'm sure this makes me a horrible, damned person: but I admit I actually laughed at your "rupees".

Ankur,

Obama has not continued the Bush policy w/r/t India. Which means that I'm happy to see him go, if it means he really is making up for lost time (and will still yell like heck if his entourage is not the same order of magnitude as W's.)

McConnell appears like he is in a partisan trance ready to grind the senate into endless further obstructionism and that crook Boehner wants the president to work with him like he is the king...that's not triumphalism. that is republican business as usual.

Almost Ali said... "...While Obama and entourage fly off to India to spend tens of millions of taxpayer money with gay indifference."

DING DING. WTF are they going? And it's more like $100s of millions.Bernanke just got caught lying under oath.

Bernanke: "I will not monetize the debt".

WTF is he doing? Are there different rules for the "common folk"? When testifying before congress. I mean really, they nailed Roger Clemmons to the wall for LYING about taking steroids!!!!Bernanke is committing generational theft! Madoff times a billion! Besides that he testified before congress that he wouldn't monetize the debt. Who does he answer to?

Where is the Usurper going at a time when a "government official", if you can call Bernanke that, is spending another $Trillion of our money in a way that he said he wouldn't?

He was installed by these bankers and he is protecting them.

Why are the educated law profs standing idly by while their fellow Ivy League Cabal rape the country, break the law and tear up the Constitution.

If no one in congress steps up now, then there are no patriots. if Boehner and Demint are for real then they have the OBLIGATION to end the Fed, Repeal Obamacare, and prosecute the bankers who are raping this country.

Seven Machos - "Still further, I ask all of you this: do you want a strong dollar and more manufacturing jobs in the United States? If yes, you need to step away from all discussions concerning economics."

It makes free trade ideologues flop on the ground quivering and screaming "Smoot-Hawley!!" but you get a strong dollar and a robust manufacturing sector when you limit free trade. Germany and other nations with high exports and strong currency in part accomplish their success by slapping a VAT on every import. They also have ISO standards of Green manufacturing that bars Chinese and other 3rd world goods not made with workers standards, environmental and quality standards in place.

America is the Open Market where you can dump poisoned dog food, fake milk proiducts, and flat screen TVs made by captive workers behind barbed wire next to a lake made dead by flat screen production wastes.Not so Europe. Or Australia, Japan, Brazil ---that sort of shit arrives on their docks, it gets returned to China.

Same deal with high value service sector jobs. They are better protected. The solution when the CHinese, Indians, Japanese, French found US IT workers were far ahead of them was NOT to import Americans to do the work, but spend one generation importing Americans to train their people, the next generation to try and take US IT service sector jobs away from America with a big green light from the Elite Owner Class in America that got profits from the outsourced service sector jobs.

When Germany, Japan, China, Brazil recognize they are short of workers in new high value, high tech industries and services, their solution is not to hand out millions of H1-B visas but to train their native workforce to be able to do the high value jobs.

Politically, no. Legally, yes. California is a corporation, although with certain caveats and immunities.

I liken California to Enron, but without the toilet training.

They need someone like Carl Icahn to restructure their debt and sell off their assets. For example, they could sell San Francisco to Nevada - and I don't mean that entirely tongue-in-cheek. In turn, Nevada could line the right-of-way with casinos and slot machines.

Ali -- What about when Bush did Mumbai, in 2006? Did it bother you? Did you know about it?

Seven, I agree, all presidents visit foreign countries. And it’s probably always expensive. And generally, I think there is some political carping that goes on that is unnecessary.

But politically? Taking very conspicuous trips when the economy is in the crapper is an entirely different thing than when it’s not. And when you go away 3 days after an election where your side took a “shellacking”, you don’t exactly look like that’s just when you needed to make this important foreign policy trip.

Honestly, I think Obama is just a bad poltician. Any idiot could see that this trip would look kind of bad for him and he took it anyway. The same way Michelle took her trip anyway. They did nothing to make it look better either because they dont' care how it looks, or they have no idea what to do to make it look better (like, Obama not taking this trip right after the election) and they are unwilling to not do exactly what they want to do, regardless of political backlash.

I think getting the hell out of the country right after the election is just what the doctor ordered.

As Lincoln said on a similar occasion*, "[I feel] somewhat like the boy in Kentucky who stubbed his toe while running to see his sweetheart. The boy said he was too big to cry, and far too badly hurt to laugh."

The trip will give Obama time to think about his next steps.

*Lincoln's reply when asked to comment on the Democrats' winning state elections in New York, quoted in Leslie's Illustrated Weekly, Nov. 22, 1862

Maybe because the pundits were predicting Republicans to gain 25 seats in 1994, so the actual number was a big surprise. This time around the pundits were closer to the mark, so less surprise, less jubilation.

Almost Ali--thanks (if they did declare bankruptcy, perhaps Scalia or Alito could take a sabbatical and preside over the bankruptcy proceedings)

As to the state visit to India? Clearly over the top in terms of cost and entourage, but as a commenter noted above, India should become one of the centerpieces of our foreign policy. They are far too important to ignore for all the reasons noted above.

Long overdue from a geostrategic point of view, and I commend Mr Obama for the gesture, if not the wretched excess in terms of cost.

American Enterprise Institute's Norm Ornstein, not exactly a raging leftist, said John Boehner and his leadership team "are becoming the Bart Simpsons of Congress, gleeful at smarmy and adolescent tactics and unable and unwilling to get serious."

and....

I guess all's fair in love and politics, but seriously? One of their official strategies, memorialized in a PowerPoint presentation, was to harass Democrats with video cameras until they got so sick of politics that they just gave up? Did we really just hand over control of Congress to a bunch of seventh graders?

"He (Obama) specifically wanted to have an opportunity to celebrate Diwali and to do so with the Indian people, getting beyond simply his official business," Jeff Bader, Senior Director for Asia Affairs at the National Security Council, White House, said.

And what does it cost to position 37 warships off the coast of India so Barack and Michelle can experience firsthand the Festival of lights? That is, aside from the $2-billion for "tourist" class.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Obama hit the jackpot two years ago and has been having the time of his life ever since. Liberal nincompoops elected this jive turkey and we'll be paying for his hyper-junkets until congress runs him out of office.

The House was all set last week to approve the America COMPETES Act, a jobs bill with a specific focus on boosting investing in science, research, and training programs. It was scuttled by a deliberately absurd Republican motion related to pornography, which Dems were afraid to vote against because they knew it'd be used in attack ads.

John Boehner used to be a serious legislator. Eric Cantor is smart and a justifiably rising star in the GOP firmament. But they are becoming the Bart Simpsons of Congress, gleeful at smarmy and adolescent tactics and unable and unwilling to get serious. Instead of encouraging a constructive relationship with the serious and fair-minded legislators on the Democratic side, they are adding to the traction of their take-no-prisoners counterparts. What a shame.

Really, it seems conservatives think that things are "adult" if they are done by Republicans.

"(C) An entity may be a debtor under chapter 9 of this title if and only if such entity- (1) is a municipality; (2) is specifically authorized, in its capacity as a municipality or by name, to be a debtor under such chapter by State law, or by a governmental officer or organization empowered by State law to authorize such entity to be a debtor under such chapter; (3) is insolvent; (4) desires to effect a plan to adjust such debts; and (5) (A) has obtained the agreement of creditors holding at least a majority in amount of the claims of each class that such entity intends to impair under a plan in a case under such chapter; (B) has negotiated in good faith with creditors and has failed to obtain the agreement of creditors holding at least a majority in amount of the claims of each class that such entity intends to impair under a plan in a case under such chapter; (C) is unable to negotiate with creditors because such negotiation is impracticable; or (D) reasonably believes that a creditor may attempt to obtain a transfer that is avoidable under section 547 of this title."

11 U.S.C. 101(40), in turn, defines municipality as a "political subdivision or public agency or instrumentality of a State."

Given that municipalities are explicitly authorized to declare bankruptcy and states aren't, a bankruptcy judge would most likely conclude that Congress intended not to make bankruptcy relief available to states.

I believe the estimates for the cost of the India trip are grossly exaggerated. The fleet has to be somewhere and steaming into the Indian Ocean is no different than steaming somewhere else. The fleet is always on the move, not just bobbing in the middle of the sea.

India is an important market and politically strategic. One hopes he does not intend to apologize for anything to the Indians, nor to urge them to surrender territory to Pakistan.

He is a new age multi culti guy, about to be a lap behind in those matters, so he naturally thinks it important to be a Hindu for the day. Perhaps his fat ass wife will take up yoga or silent meditation and embrace it as her new way of life.

Just hoping Boehner isn't planning on using that godawful excessive and wasteful jet that Pelosi used.

Jack O Lantern:

BOEHNER: There's no question that the speaker, third in line to the president, ought to have the security of having a plane. The plane that was used for Mr. Hastert has a 4,000-nautical-mile range. So the same plane could've been used by Ms. Pelosi. Where the concerns were elevated is when she started to talk about taking family, staff, the supporters, and other members on her trip with her. And I think the taxpayers ought to provide a plane for her and her close staff. But when you start talking about supporters and other members and friends, I don't think the taxpayers ought to be held accountable for that.

"Given that municipalities are explicitly authorized to declare bankruptcy and states aren't, a bankruptcy judge would most likely conclude that Congress intended not to make bankruptcy relief available to states."

Which in all probability results in a politically driven settlement similar to GM, where bondholders and shareholders were screwed to ensure the unions and retirees continue to receive benefits far in excess of their non-union peers.

Madison Man has a point: the typical Congressman has a staff of 21. I suggest reducing that to five for all incoming freshmen, as the first step in cutting government spending.

Also, congressional pensions will be treated like Social Security. If the retirement age is raised, it will be raised for Congress as well. If Social Security is means-tested, Congressional pensions will also be means-tested.

I have no idea then again I'm sure if he was globetrotting with a security detail bigger than Belgium's army and airforce, I have no doubt HuffPo or some enterprising media outlet would have informed us of it.

Madison Man has a point: the typical Congressman has a staff of 21. I suggest reducing that to five for all incoming freshmen, as the first step in cutting government spending.

Also, congressional pensions will be treated like Social Security. If the retirement age is raised, it will be raised for Congress as well. If Social Security is means-tested, Congressional pensions will also be means-tested.

I will be buying Powerball tickets tonight as I find myself in total agreement with FLS.

Seeems like now would be a good time to reconsider whether the Speaker really requires government air transport. They never had it before 9/11, so perhaps they don't need it. The odds of the President and Vice President both getting killed while the Speaker is in the air is pretty damn remote...is it really necessary for these people to fly military jets around?

Pelosi did abuse the privilege, IMO, but I question whether it's really necessary in the first place.

I have no idea then again I'm sure if he was globetrotting with a security detail bigger than Belgium's army and airforce, I have no doubt HuffPo or some enterprising media outlet would have informed us of it.

According to Peru21 daily newspapers and other sources, it wasn’t enough for president George Bush to trust his security details with the Peruvians, but instead counted on a whole American armada including two aircraft carriers strategically placed along the shores of Lima. Including six hundred American agents from the Secret Service, CIA, American military police, FBI, and the DEA.

The Marriott Hotel was completely sealed off for the president’s expected visit, but sources say that President Bush ended spending the night on one of the aircraft carriers moored off shore instead.

Now think about the impossibility of that. Two hundred million bucks a day? As Factcheck.org points out, the entire U.S. war effort in Afghanistan — where we have to arm, equip and provision roughly 100,000 troops in a hostile, barren environment — costs us $190 million a day. The claim is simply too ridiculous to be contemplated, let alone believed.

Yet as the clip above from Fox Business News demonstrates, the absurdity quickly became fuel for the vast right-wing outrage machine. (My favorite part above is where the outraged host, the genius Eric Bolling, insists: “I will tell you unequivocably, I am not making this up, this has been reported, go to the Internet, go take a look.” Really, they gave this guy a microphone and TV time?)

Drudge picked it up. Sean Hannity jumped in on it. Rush Limbaugh has been spreading the meme. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann went on CNN to condemn the expenditure. And the blogosphere? Oh the lunacy!

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. If you’re willing to believe that Obama is a Kenyan Marxist-fascist-anticolonialist black racist who hates America and plots its destruction, what won’t you believe.

I should point out that one of the most strategic US Naval bases is only 1100 miles south of India. It is the british territory, Diego Garcia. I am certain there are aircraft carriers stationed there. I know the USS Saratoga used that as its base in the mid eighties..but I am not sure if it has been decomissioned.

President George Bush’s Security Details in Peru APEC Visit is More Like an Invasion Rather Than a Head of State Meeting:

Sure does. Bush took a light battalion instead of a brigade.

You probably don't want to go there with me on this kind of crap since as far as I'm concerned, all this presidential globetrotting is a waste of time and tax dollars. We have embassies and a state dept. If the President has to jet set at the cost of tens of millions a day then get rid of foggy bottom.

So let me see if I have this straight: First AL complains that we're not discussing the cost of Obama's trip sufficiently so he introduces the topic out of the blue. Then two comments later drops this:

"Really, people. Will you please stop spreading lies?"

What could possibly motivate him?

Combine his complete lack of honesty with the relentless misdirection and spin on every single issue or topic, and wonder why none of it ever results in even a hint of remorse or introspection.

There's only one thing that explains all this. He's paid to post the liberal attack line.

Jay, no matter how much someone exaggerates the cost of a visit - do you really think it is even close to the realm of possibility that Obama's visit, per day, costs more than the war in Afghanistan costs per day?

Nobody 'knows' the exact cost, for security reasons - but that doesn't mean we should take leave of common sense.

Way to dodge the answer. You've shut down DOC, which provides the weather data for the US. Where are you going to get data? All the Private Weather Companies in the US get data from the government. And model output as well. It's not just coincidence that the Forecasts from Accu-Weather, the Weather Channel, the National Weather Service and the local TV are all the same.

You gonna get data from Europe? Open up your checkbook. From Canada? Where do you think they get data over the USA?

Jay, no matter how much someone exaggerates the cost of a visit - do you really think it is even close to the realm of possibility that Obama's visit, per day, costs more than the war in Afghanistan costs per day?

Soldiers don’t stay at the taj mahal? Tents are cheap!

RE, potential govt shut down. During the last one, essential employees still worked, they just didn't get paid for a month. Then they got back pay. I don't think shutting down the govt should be a goal just out of spite. Long term actions are more important, and it's utility towards accomplishing long term goals has not been proved to me by the previous shut down.

Jay, no matter how much someone exaggerates the cost of a visit - do you really think it is even close to the realm of possibility that Obama's visit, per day, costs more than the war in Afghanistan costs per day?

From my perspective, this is only an "issue" in the fact that a) Obama is a political coward for running out of the country and b) His "carbon footprint" for this trip is staggering.

While of course wanting to foist cap & trade on a country that doesn't want it, and engaging in global warming rhetoric/lectures.

I must add it is fun watching the resident clown twist herself in knots in faux indignancy.